The origins of the Crittenton Center in Sioux City date back to 1882. It was in that year that Charles Crittenton’s daughter, Florence, died from scarlet fever. From that moment on, he vowed to help women and children experiencing homelessness and personal crises with no other place to call home. In 1894, Dr. Agnes Eichelberger and Police Matron Thurston began organizing a home for indigent children in Sioux City.
“The Crittenton Center was founded in 1895 and has adapted over the years to meet the changing needs of our communities. Although it was initially a maternity home for unwed mothers, the agency is now a multi-disciplinary, family-oriented, nonprofit (501c3) designed to give children and families the support they need,” shared Lauren Miller, Federal Project Director RPG, and Marketing Outreach Coordinator for the Crittenton Center.
Although the services for the organization have grown over the years, the mission, vision, beliefs, and values have stayed true.
“As the needs and climates have shifted, we’ve kept our mission the same. However, our services and direct services have undergone some changes. We are a robust agency with more than 200 employees and two main divisions: The Child and Family Development Division and the Child Welfare and Well-Being Division,” explained Lauren.
Under the Child and Family Development Division, we have six locations – four in Sioux City, one in Le Mars, and one in Orange City. The centers provide child care, preschool services, and before and after-school care. We also have our Family Resource Center, in this division, which provides parenting education and support to families.
“With locations scattered across the Siouxland area, we try to eliminate transportation as a potential barrier for clients to get services. We collaborate with numerous community resources to provide comprehensive wraparound services for parents and children. We want to be able to help wherever the need is. The great thing about our Family Resource Center is you may receive incentives for completing any of our classes, such as a car seat, a pack-and-play, baby gates, training toilets, diapers, or formula…just to name a few things,” explained Lauren. “We work to connect them with resources regardless if they’ve completed one of our classes.” Classes are also offered in Spanish.
If any of the services mentioned so far sound like something you or your family may need, the organization can be reached at 712-255-4321, info@crittentoncenter.org, or visit their main office, located at 600 4th Street, Suite 100, in the Ho-Chunk Centre, Sioux City, IA 51101.
“This team is all heart-driven, service-driven people. We are happy and willing to help people without judgment, regardless of the circumstances. We don’t care. We want our clients to be happy, healthy, and as successful as possible!” stated Lauren.
The second division of the organization is the Child Welfare and Well-Being Division.
“This hosts our Transitional Therapeutic Home and Supervised Apartment Living. Our Transitional Therapeutic Home is an emergency youth shelter. The youth that are served here range from 0 to 18 years old. Youth may have been removed from their homes due to parental/caregiver abuse or neglect and are typically brought in to us by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the Juvenile Courts, or Law Enforcement,” said Lauren.
The youth in this division receive shelter and education, and their mental and behavioral health needs are also addressed. However, this is not a case of three hots and a cot.
“We have an actual school inside the facility with certified teachers and a curriculum that follows the Sioux City Community School District. The teachers are just amazing and provide a lot of unique, hands-on learning experiences!” exclaimed Lauren.
This division also hired two in-house therapists last fall thanks to their Regional Partnership Grant.
“They provide much-needed therapy services. Some of these kids have been put through some pretty extensive trauma. While it is unfortunate, we’re grateful they’re being helped here,” said Lauren.
The original expectation of stay for a child in a shelter was 30 days. After that, they are placed into foster care, with another family member, or, if specific criteria have been met, they are allowed to return to their parent(s) if deemed appropriate and safe.
“The kids in our care stay with us longer than 30 days. Our most recent report states that the average stay is 128 days. Unfortunately, immediate placements aren’t always available, so they get to stay with us a bit longer. And frankly, we love having them. They’re just awesome kids. There are so many different personalities, experiences, and walks of life. We’re just a big family here. We, as a staff, are being trained as surrogate parents, essentially, through our “Teaching Family Model.” We offer them “Voices and Choices,” motivation, life skill-building, and accountability for every situation and interaction in life.
The therapy models used in the shelter are evidence-based, and the response to them has been impactful. All staff are trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid and a host of other trauma-informed care practices. Training in these topics is available to the public upon request, and at no cost. Crittenton Center is the proud recipient of four Federal Grants that help supplement essential programs and services for youth and families. To learn more about them, visit www.crittentoncenter.org/news.
“We like to be able to take the kids out for activities and outings, and remind them that they are part of a larger community that loves and supports them.. It’s a great environment, culture, and ecosystem. We prioritize not only their needs, but their wants as well. Even if there are times when someone gets a little anxious or scared and leaves, they know they can always come back. The porch light is always on. We want them back, and we’re always prioritizing their needs and wants,” explained Lauren.
Tune in to the rest of the webcast to hear about the Supervised Apartment Living Program, which the Crittenton Center also offers for youth aged 16.5 to 21, their six tiny homes, and their new Street Outreach program for homeless children or those at risk of becoming homeless, up to the age of 26.
Save the date. The 130th Celebration for the Crittenton Center will be held on November 8, 2025. More news will be announced as the date approaches. On July 1, 2025, 130 days before the Celebration, a storytelling launch event will also take place. If you’ve ever had any involvement with the Crittenton Center that has touched your life or your heart, visit their website and learn how you can share your story.
By Amy Buster
